Tel Aviv summons Russian ambassador ... over last week's conference in Moscow

Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktotov was summoned on October 29 to the Israeli foreign ministry on Sunday following the visit by a Hamas delegation to Moscow.

"Deputy Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Simona Halperin explained to the ambassador that Israel is taking seriously the lack of Moscow’s clear and unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist organization Hamas, as well as Russia’s actions in international organizations," TASS quotes the Israeli Foreign Ministry as saying.

A delegation from Hamas visited Moscow on October 26 for talks on the release of foreign hostages including Russian citizens that the militant group is currently holding in Gaza, Russian news agencies reported, citing the foreign ministry.

"Member of the Hamas Islamic resistance movement Politburo Abu Marzook is currently in Moscow," the Ministry said, according to TASS. "He took part in meetings in continuation of the Russian course towards the release of foreign hostages present in the Gaza Strip, and took part in discussion of evacuation of Russian and other foreign citizens from the Palestinian enclave."

The Foreign Ministry noted that Russia "reaffirmed its unchanged position in favor of implementation of the recognized decision of the international community, including the corresponding UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions that imply establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state within 1967 borders and a capital in East Jerusalem, which coexists in peace and security with Israel."

The situation in the Middle East has escalated abruptly after an armed infiltration of HAMAS militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel. The HAMAS movement considers this attack a response to the actions of Israeli authorities towards the Al Aqsa Mosque at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israel announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip and started carrying out strikes at the enclave and at certain areas of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes also take place in the West Bank.